In one of the deadliest reported airstrikes on Afghanistan, the Afghan Taliban government said early Tuesday that Pakistan carried out an attack that killed at least 400 people and injured about 250 at a drug rehabilitation hospital in Kabul.
The claimed toll prompted sharp criticism from Afghanistan’s cricketers, who condemned the deaths “as a result of Pakistani airstrikes,” noting the strike occurred during the holy month of Ramadan. Pakistan rejected the allegation, calling the claim false and saying its forces had “precisely targeted military installations and terrorist support infrastructure” during operations on Monday night.
Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan called the civilian casualties deeply disturbing. “I am deeply saddened by the latest reports of civilian casualties as a result of Pakistani airstrikes in Kabul. Targeting civilian homes, educational facilities or medical infrastructure, either intentional or by mistake, is a war crime,” Rashid posted on X. He added that the “disregard for human lives, especially during the holy month of Ramadan, is sickening and deeply concerning,” and urged the UN and human rights bodies to investigate.
Former captain Mohammad Nabi also voiced grief. “Tonight in Kabul, hope was extinguished at a hospital. Young men seeking treatment were murdered in a bombing by the Pakistani military regime. Mothers waited at the gates, calling their sons’ names. On the 28th night of Ramadan, their lives were cut short,” he wrote on X.
T20I captain Ibrahim Zadran said he heard a massive explosion and saw flames rising from a hospital. “Our brothers who intended to fast tomorrow are now gone, or wounded. My thoughts are with every family grieving tonight. Kabul is in pain. We pray for justice,” he posted.
Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy Taliban spokesman, said the strike occurred at about 9 pm (1630 GMT) on Monday and hit the Omid 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation hospital. “Large parts of the hospital have been destroyed, and there are fears of heavy casualties,” he said, adding the death toll had reached 400 with up to 250 injured.
The Pakistani Information and Broadcasting Ministry dismissed the Taliban’s account as “misreporting of facts.” In an overnight post on X, Pakistan said it targeted military installations and “terrorist support infrastructure,” including storage of technical equipment and ammunition used against Pakistani civilians, in Kabul and Nangarhar. The post said Pakistan’s strikes were precise and aimed to avoid collateral damage, and called claims that the target was a drug rehabilitation facility an attempt to stir sentiment and conceal support for cross-border terrorism.
Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have risen following months of cross-border strikes. Islamabad says militants use Afghan territory to launch attacks on Pakistan; Kabul and the Taliban deny providing safe haven and describe militancy as Pakistan’s internal issue. Fighting had eased amid mediation efforts by friendly countries, including China, but has flared again.
